Student Visa Solicitors and Lawyers

The correct route depends on your age, course, education provider and length of study. A Student visa is usually for applicants aged 16 or over studying an eligible course with a licensed student sponsor. A Child Student visa is for children aged 4 to 17 studying at an independent school. A Short-term study visa is for English language courses lasting longer than 6 months but not more than 11 months. Some study activities may be possible as a Standard Visitor, but this depends on what you are studying, how long you will be in the UK and whether the activity is permitted under the visitor rules.

A CAS is a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies. It is issued by a licensed student sponsor and is used for many Student visa applications. The CAS should match the application details. If the course, fees, dates, sponsor details or personal information are wrong, this can create delay or refusal risk. You should check the CAS carefully before applying.

For the main Student visa route, a CAS is normally required because it confirms that a licensed student sponsor has offered you a place on an eligible course. If you do not have a CAS, you may need to speak to your education provider or check whether a different route applies. Do not submit an application assuming the Home Office will accept course evidence instead of a CAS.

The documents depend on your circumstances, but they may include your passport, CAS, financial evidence, English language evidence, academic documents, tuberculosis test certificate if required, parental consent if you are under 18, and documents for dependants if they are applying with you. The safest approach is to prepare a route-specific document checklist before applying. Missing or inconsistent documents can cause delay or refusal.

The financial requirement depends on your course, fees, location, whether you have already paid money to your sponsor, and whether you are exempt from showing funds. You should check the current requirement before applying and make sure the evidence follows the Home Office rules. Financial evidence is a common reason for refusals, especially where bank statements do not cover the correct period or do not meet the format expected.

Some Student visa applicants can bring a partner or children as dependants, but not every student can do this. GOV.UK says this is generally limited to government-sponsored students on courses longer than 6 months, or full-time students on eligible postgraduate courses. If the postgraduate course starts on or after 1 January 2024, it must be a PhD, other doctorate or research-based higher degree. You should check dependant eligibility before making plans for your family to apply.

Some Student visa holders can work, but the conditions depend on the course, sponsor and visa conditions. There may be limits on working hours during term time and restrictions on the type of work you can do. You should check your visa conditions before working. Breaching work conditions can create serious immigration problems.

You may be able to extend your Student visa in the UK if you meet the requirements, have a valid CAS and your current immigration status allows an in-country application. Timing matters. If applying from inside the UK, you must apply before your current visa expires and your new course must begin within the required period after your current visa expires.

Some applicants can switch into the Student route from inside the UK, but not everyone can. The answer depends on your current visa category and whether the Student route allows switching from your current status. You should check this before applying, because submitting the wrong type of application can create problems with timing, validity and immigration status.

You may be able to switch from a Student visa to a work route if the route allows it and you meet the requirements. This may include switching to a sponsored work route or applying under the Graduate route after completing an eligible course. Work visa advice should usually be handled under the Work Visa section, but it is sensible to plan early if you want to stay in the UK after study.

No, the Student route itself is not a direct route to settlement. If your long-term aim is to settle in the UK, you will usually need to consider a later route that can lead to settlement, depending on your circumstances. You should check this before your current permission expires, especially if you plan to move from study into work or another immigration route.

If your education provider loses its sponsor licence, this can affect your ability to study in the UK and your immigration position. GOV.UK says students will need to find a new course with a different education provider, and the new education provider will need to sponsor them. You should get advice quickly because your permission to stay in the UK may be affected.

If your Student visa is refused, you should read the refusal letter carefully and get advice before taking action. Depending on where you applied and what the decision says, administrative review may be available. In some cases, a fresh application may be more suitable. Do not simply resubmit the same application without fixing the problem. If the refusal was caused by financial evidence, CAS issues, missing documents or credibility concerns, the next application needs to address those points clearly.

Some study is allowed as a Standard Visitor, but only within the permitted visitor rules. Standard Visitor study is usually for courses of up to 6 months or other permitted study activities. If your course is longer or requires sponsorship, you may need a Student visa, Child Student visa or Short-term study visa instead. Choosing the wrong route can affect your ability to study and your future immigration position.

No. The Graduate visa is a post-study route and should sit under Work Visas, not as a main Student Visa page. Students may need advice about the Graduate route after completing an eligible course, but the detailed Graduate visa page should be part of the Work Visa section.